How to help the Postal Service deliver vision and eye health education

Start off 2015 on a strong note: Join a campaign to educate tens of thousands of postal workers about the importance of eye and vision care.

The wellness program will assist employees and their families in accessing available vision and eye health care benefits.

The AOA is working with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to launch its Vision and Eye Health Wellness Program in January. Activities are underway to reach out to more than 600,000 USPS employees and empower them with the knowledge they need to keep their eyes healthy.

Good vision and healthy eyes affect the job performance of USPS employees, says Michael Dueñas, O.D., AOA's chief public health officer. In working with AOA on this campaign, the USPS "better understands that direct access to in-person comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor is important," he adds.

Among its objectives, the wellness program will support USPS employees and their families in making healthy choices for eye and vision health, while enhancing the role of asymptomatic comprehensive eye examinations in primary prevention. It also will assist employees and their families in accessing available vision and eye health care benefits of the USPS health benefit programs.

Volunteers sought to educate workersAOA will be working with offices within USPS during January and February to assist them with onsite vision and eye health education at numerous postal facilities, Dr. Dueñas says. As part of this extensive outreach effort, the AOA will be asking member doctors to visit USPS facilities and educate employees about the importance of eye and vision care.

"This could be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation followed by a Q&A," Dr. Dueñas says. "While it'll be very helpful for postal employees to know the signs and symptoms of potential problems and better understand the risk factors associated with a range of vision and eye health issues, it should be made clear that the only way to ensure healthy eyes and clear vision is through regular in-person comprehensive eye exams provided by their eye doctor."

Members interested in volunteering should email Dr. Dueñas using the subject: AOA/USPS Wellness Program.

AOA also plans to issue a toolkit and provide a webinar to the Postal Service Occupational Health Services leadership, detailing the particulars of the AOA vision health outreach program.

The toolkit will include brochures, a public service announcement featuring AOA President David A. Cockrell, O.D., and posters that can be displayed in the break rooms at all 32,000 USPS locations.